Families

Documentary photography is for everyone and for everything. It’s the type of photography that stirs up emotions and looks at life for what it really is.

I know that "being in the moment" is hard when you have distractions like the dishes, laundry, email, work, school and a mile long list of “to do’s”. But there are so many times that we are missing the real moments with our kids because we are thinking about so many other things.

However, if you are anything like me, you stop to play a quick game of tag or a picnic with the teddies, all the time! I have a billion photos of my husband and son in those moments, but rarely of me. Wouldn't you like a photo with your children doing the things you normally do? Wouldn't you want a photo of the memories you'll actually have? I do, I want that! (Raising my hand with enthusiasm!)

1. Capture REAL moments!You'd be surprised all the stuff you miss and frankly ignore as a parent. It's just something we learn to do to survive, haha! But kids are weird and hysterical.

Seriously, they are a crack up! It's those weird things that we remember the most. We'll tell their boyfriends and girlfriends later on and use photos of our kids in bath tubs to embarrass their future wife or husband.

Although, I think the most important point about all these memories is that we, as parents, were there too. We reacted. So you should be able to look back at those moments and be represented too.

2. We do a "day in the life" session for our wedding day and that's it!Then for the rest of our lives we have this need to get fall portraits done every year. You know for the Christmas card and to hang one more portrait of us in matching outfits on the wall.

Ok, don't take this the wrong way because I do love a good portrait (I am a photographer after all), but it's not a real representation of you and how you'll be remembered.

How often do you coordinate outfits on a normal day? (Uh I have to say for me, NEVER.)

Do your kids enjoy portrait day? (Mine doesn't)

Is it stressful for you? (Yes, yes, yes!)

Oh and do your kids remember anything significant about that day? (Nope, except for the ice cream I got him after). ​

Then why do we insist on doing this every year? Let's relax and enjoy our time with our kids and have someone else capture the fun!

3. You're on your phone enoughThis kind of relates to number 2 and I can't say it enough that smartphones do not compare to professional cameras, especially when printing photos.

Like many parents, you are busy, very busy. The smart phone is what you have on you and yes portrait mode is pretty amazing! However, have you ever tried to print a large photo from your phone. They are awful! Phones still don't match professional cameras when it comes to mega pixels and the right lenses make all the difference. Smartphone cameras only go so far and don't you want to be in the photo too?

Also, professional photographers have hours of education under their belt in order to make those amazing shots and hours of practice. Last year alone I took over 30,000 photos. That’s a lot of practice!​

As a parent you don’t have a lot time to learn how to take really amazing photographs that a professional can get. So hire one for vacations, for parties and for regular days. Anything really. The photos will be better quality and won't be stuck or lost on your phone.

4. Get back to making memories instead of taking them.How many of these milestones and events in your life are you missing from the pictures? Birthdays? Baptisms? Vacations? Day trips? Baby shower? And the list goes on.​

Get back to being there, being in the moment, being a family. Because you don’t want your child to be asked what they remember of you during their birthday and they say “mommy was on her phone.” Make memories and let someone else worry about taking them.

5. What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your children?Family legacies are “a set of beliefs, values, and attitudes that are passed down from generation to generation through the messages that children receive from their parents,” according to the Center for Parenting.

Some families believe that money is the only legacy you can leave behind, but a legacy is more than that. A legacy can be someone who makes history, who is a leader or who makes a difference in their children lives.​

So how does your legacy look? How will it be captured? Is it wall of posed portraits or real moments of the legacy your leaving your family?

Ready for a different kind of photo session? Shoot me an email and tell me all about the memories you want to make and legacy you want to leave!